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LOCKDOWN NOTICE

NOTICE TO CLIENTS: CORONA-VIRUS 19

NATIONAL LOCKDOWN COMMENCING 27 MARCH 2020

All offices of TMJ Attorneys are required by law to observe the regulations published by the South African Government relating to the National Lockdown commencing on Friday 27 March 2020. These entail the closure of our offices with effect from 16H30 on 26 March until 08H00 on 17 April 2020 (or such later date to which the lockdown may be extended by the Government). During the period for which our offices are required to remain closed –

1. our offices will be unmanned;

2. clients will by law not be permitted to attend our offices for any reason or consultation whatsoever;

3. all directors and professional staff will continue to attend to the affairs of clients from their personal homes insofar as this is possible – but no business can be conducted in person with any clients;

4. certain non-professional staff have also been equipped to continue working on the business affairs of clients to comply with the requirements of Service Level Agreements of banking and other financial institutions, the Road Accident Fund, and certain other institutions and organs of state – but again, no business can be conducted in person by these staff with any clients;

5. our Accounts Department will remain fully functional on all weekdays and will be operated electronically by the staff of that department from their homes – meaning that all electronic payments, deposits, transfers, investments and other banking transactions can continue unaffected – under the direct supervision and authority of specified authorised directors of the firm ;

6. all courts (including labour courts and tribunals) are closed until further notice, with certain (strictly limited) exceptions;

7. offices of the Master of the High Court are similarly closed;

8. all deeds registries are closed with effect from 28 March for the duration of the lockdown – meaning that no registrations of property transfers, mortgage and notarial bonds or other transactions that require registration in a deeds registry can be effected over that period;

9. all offices of the South African Revenue Service are similarly closed – meaning that tax and other returns, and the issuing of transfer-duty receipts and exemptions for property transactions will not be processed over the period of the lockdown;

10. certain departments of local authorities are also closed for the duration of the lockdown : these include billing departments for municipal rates and services (meaning that the issuing of rates-clearance certificates required for property transfers will not be processed over this period);

11. our reception switchboards will not be operational – but for any advice, assistance or updates you require please feel free to contact your attorney or his / her staff  by email to which you will receive an automatic reply reflecting his/her personal cell phone number, should you wish to contact them telephonically;

12. communications can also be directed by email to addresses from which you have received email communications from them previously – or by visiting our website and clicking on the “Our People” page which will direct you to the relevant director’s email address;

13. KINDLY NOTE IN PARTICULAR THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL YOU BE ADVISED BY EMAIL OF ANY PURPORTED CHANGES IN OUR BANKING DETAILS FOR PURPOSES OF ANY PAYMENTS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE : SHOULD YOU RECEIVE ANY SUCH NOTIFICATION PURPORTEDLY EMANATING FROM OUR OFFICES, PLEASE DO NOT ACT ON IT AND INSTEAD CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY BY TELEPHONE FOR FURTHER DIRECTION.

TMJ Attorneys wishes you and your families continued good health throughout the duration of the impending lockdown – and beyond until the threat of the Coronavirus-19 has receded completely.

Yours sincerely

MICHAEL BROWNING

Managing Director